F.a.q. Series "what Microhphone Should I Get?" |
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Oct 18 2021, 05:16 AM
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I often get this question from folks looking to start building their first home studio. "What mic should I buy?". It's a good question. The choice of mic has a big impact on the quality of what's recorded with it. These days, there is a plethora of choices. So many choices in fact, that it can be overwhelming. What I keep seeing a LOT of is the variety of USB mics. These are very handy for podcasting and such. You just plug it in to your laptop/desktop/tablet and bam you can record high quality audio. These units do vary quite a bit in terms of the quality of construction and audio ability. some are cheap plastic and a bit crap. Some are quite good. So what to do?
Honestly, i'd go with a classic. The SHURE SM-57 is a classic design that sounds good, won't ever fail, and is solid as a rock. You can run over it with a car and it will still work great. It always sounds the same. It never does anything odd or unpredictable. Typcially speaking of course. if you had to live on a remote island and could have only one mic, thats the one I'd say to buy. Of course, being that this is a traditional mic, it does require a traditional mic cable! An XLR cable to connect it to your audio interface. The reason to go this route instead of using a USB mic is simple. Fewer points of failure and it feeds an interface instead of being the interface. For a USB mic, you have to select it as your interface. So if youy want to record your guitar on a separate channel, your DAW may not want to cooperate. Typically a daw wants one audio device. So using an interface with multiple inputs is a good idea. To wit! *Slight click bait thumbnail *Check out this Rock lesson! https://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Advanc...h-Shuffle-Rock/ This post has been edited by Todd Simpson: Oct 18 2021, 06:11 AM |
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Oct 18 2021, 09:37 PM
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SM57 or possibly an SM58 if you really have to only have one.
https://thehomerecordings.com/shure-sm57-vs-sm58/ -------------------- SEE MY GMC CERTIFICATE  “Success is not obtained overnight. It comes in instalments; you get a little bit today, a little bit tomorrow until the whole package is given out. The day you procrastinate, you lose that day's success.” Israelmore Ayivor |
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Oct 18 2021, 09:55 PM
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QUOTE (Phil66 @ Oct 18 2021, 10:37 PM)  SM57 or possibly an SM58 if you really have to only have one. https://thehomerecordings.com/shure-sm57-vs-sm58/ I got the SM58 some years back as a gift (I had put SM57 on my wish list, but for some reason they thought I wanted a vocal mic), however after some googling, searching and reading I read from Shure that they are very identical mics, especially once you take off the grille. I can't find the exact article I read back then though. But yes, those are not bad mics imo. Almost essentials in a home studio 
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Oct 18 2021, 11:25 PM
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Agreed
The 58 is the same capsule as the 57 and just as sturdy. It just adds a pop filter in the round bulb on top QUOTE (Phil66 @ Oct 18 2021, 04:37 PM) SM57 or possibly an SM58 if you really have to only have one. https://thehomerecordings.com/shure-sm57-vs-sm58/ Bingo!! Many folks don't realize that it's really the same Mic just with a added pop filter on the 58 QUOTE (Caelumamittendum @ Oct 18 2021, 04:55 PM) I got the SM58 some years back as a gift (I had put SM57 on my wish list, but for some reason they thought I wanted a vocal mic), however after some googling, searching and reading I read from Shure that they are very identical mics, especially once you take off the grille. I can't find the exact article I read back then though. But yes, those are not bad mics imo. Almost essentials in a home studio |
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Oct 19 2021, 07:10 AM
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QUOTE (Todd Simpson @ Oct 18 2021, 11:25 PM) Bingo!! Many folks don't realize that it's really the same Mic just with a added pop filter on the 58 Yeah, that's why I said to get the 58 if you're only getting one mic and want to do vocals as well as amps etc, it might be a bit more versatile. Probably not much in it though. -------------------- SEE MY GMC CERTIFICATE “Success is not obtained overnight. It comes in instalments; you get a little bit today, a little bit tomorrow until the whole package is given out. The day you procrastinate, you lose that day's success.” Israelmore Ayivor |
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Oct 20 2021, 05:18 PM
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Spot on.
SM57 If you can only afford one mic, especially if your funds are limited. "If" you have a little more dough to spend but still only want to get one microphone that will cover vox and insts, I would recommend an AKG 414 or a Sennheiser 421. *Several companies now make clones of these and they're generally very good. -------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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Oct 21 2021, 04:48 AM
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I have a Warm Audio WA-14 (clone of the 414). They're $400.00 US
https://warmaudio.com/wa14/ Very solid build and IMO probably 95% of the way there. -------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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Oct 21 2021, 08:06 AM
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Thanks much for the tip!! I would want to hear from someone I trusted before buying a clone mic. If you say this sounds great then I believe it. The price is great!!!! Looks like a solid build as well.
QUOTE (klasaine @ Oct 20 2021, 11:48 PM) I have a Warm Audio WA-14 (clone of the 414). They're $400.00 US https://warmaudio.com/wa14/ Very solid build and IMO probably 95% of the way there. |
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